Position Summary: We're partnering with a rapidly growing manufacturer supporting some of the most innovative launch vehicle and satellite programs in the commercial aerospace industry and are seeking a highly driven Program Manager to lead critical customer-facing initiatives.
This is not a traditional program management role. We're looking for a leader who thrives in fast-paced environments, embraces ambiguity, and can drive execution across complex, high-visibility programs. The successful candidate will serve as the central point of coordination between customers, leadership, engineering, operations, and manufacturing teams, ensuring programs remain on track while navigating evolving priorities and aggressive timelines.
The ideal candidate brings a strong ownership mentality and a proven ability to transform complex challenges into structured execution plans. This individual will be responsible for managing program scope, schedules, risks, and cross-functional activities while maintaining clear communication with both internal stakeholders and customers. Success in this role requires sound decision-making, adaptability, and the ability to execute with urgency in an environment where priorities can shift quickly.
Summarize and report status to teammates, suppliers, customers, and management.
Initiate and manage programs throughout the product realization process, including engineering requests of all types.
Utilize the open issues matrix which includes risk mitigation plan.
Develop and manage the program budget and report updates to management as required.
Develop and drive program timing with internal milestones, e.g., design reviews, tooling, PRP gate reviews, and external milestones.
Manage multiple discipline engineering teams to meet internal and customer requirements such as TS16494, APQP, and AIAG.
Support the Business Unit or Regional Strategic Plan, facilitating activity execution and communicating to stakeholders as required.
Manage experimental process development activities as needed.
Manage new tooling engineering requests and program launches throughout the product realization process.
Present required phase-gate reviews to management.
Participate in DVP&R, DFMEA, and PFMEA development meetings.
Support APQP and VA/VE activities.
Supervise Quality Engineers, along with other functional Engineers as requested.
Conduct timely and meaningful performance evaluations for direct reports, and provide input into the performance evaluations of associates reporting under your indirect supervision.
Assess current and future development needs for direct reports and take steps to mentor and develop them accordingly.
Set the direction for team members and hold individuals accountable to performance standards and strategic objectives.
Identify and train a back-up(s) to manage key tasks when absent.
Additional functions not specifically outlined in this position description as directed by the leader.
Position Skills and Experience Requirements:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty effectively. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.
Minimum of three years of post-undergraduate degree experience in a project/process/manufacturing management role.
Bachelors of Science in Engineering or Business Administration.
Masters of Business Administration preferred.
Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Strong stakeholder management skills: effectively interacts and influences associates and customers at all levels.
Ability to interpret and analyze technical procedures and customer specifications.
Independent and organized work style: effectively manages time and prioritizes multiple tasks
Prior experience working cross culturally on global teams.
Demonstrated experience managing complex project plans and timelines based on input from other team members.
Demonstrated experience managing task dependencies and risks.
Prior experience managing or coaching less experienced team members.
Skills Required
- Minimum of three years post-undergraduate experience in project/process/manufacturing management role.
- Bachelor of Science in Engineering or Business Administration.
- Masters of Business Administration.
- Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
- Experience with TS16494, APQP, AIAG, DVP&R, DFMEA, PFMEA, and VA/VE processes.
- Demonstrated experience managing complex project plans, timelines, task dependencies, and risks.
- Ability to develop and manage program budgets and report updates to management.
- Strong written and verbal communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to interpret and analyze technical procedures and customer specifications.
- Prior experience working cross-culturally on global teams.
- Prior experience managing or coaching less experienced team members and conducting performance evaluations.
- Independent, organized work style with ability to prioritize multiple tasks and execute with urgency.
Shape Corp. Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Shape Corp. and has not been reviewed or approved by Shape Corp..
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Wellbeing offerings are positioned as unusually comprehensive, including a 24/7 onsite gym and a Total Wellbeing Center with on-site and virtual support available to employees and families at no cost. These services broaden the non-cash rewards package beyond typical manufacturing benefits.
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Retirement Support — Retirement support is described as a meaningful part of the package, with a 401(k) match referenced as a recurring strength. This can increase total compensation value even when base pay is viewed as only mid-pack.
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Strong & Reliable Incentives — Incentives are portrayed as relatively dependable, with quarterly bonus payouts and efforts to keep schedules near 40 hours when demand softens. This consistency can help stabilize earnings for roles exposed to production cycles.
Shape Corp. Insights
What We Do
We are thinkers, believers and doers. At Shape, we don’t see the norm as our limit; we look at it as our opportunity to push limits and tradition. As a chance to bring something new to our customers, associates and communities. Ignite a career where you can be INVENTIVE, CONNECTED and YOU. Discover opportunities at shapecorp.com/careers. INTEGRATED ENGINEERING As a full service, tier-one supplier, our teams design, engineer, test and analyze metal and plastic automotive components and systems. Shape solutions provide automotive OEMs with lightweight impact energy management and body structure components that meet both customer requirements and global regulations. ADVANCED MANUFACTURING Each day we manufacture products that solve customer challenges, meet global regulations and create a workplace where each associate makes a difference. Process and material advancements position us as a pioneer in custom roll forming and specialists in injection molding, welding, stamping and aluminum processing.
